Before we begin a full series on named demons, we need to ask a more basic question: what are these names, really? Are they ancient and original, or are they titles, translations, corruptions, polemics, and borrowed labels that changed over time?

In this episode, JJ lays the groundwork for thinking carefully about demon names by exploring the differences between Semitic, Greek, and Latin traditions, how names shift as they move across languages and cultures, and why people should be cautious about putting too much certainty in them. Along the way, we’ll examine how gods become demons, how titles become identities, and why the history behind a name is often stranger than the name itself.

If you’ve ever wondered whether demon names carry real meaning, how much stock you should put in them, or why so much modern lore gets this topic wrong; this is the essential starting point.

A sober introduction to names, origins, language, and the illusion of certainty.

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